We always enjoy subscription boxes because they introduce us to new brands and even new foods. Like with gift baskets, I find most subscription boxes have more down time where maybe 1 to 2 items are fabulous and the others are duds. You then have companies, which add so much little filler that getting a real sized item is impossible.

Not with Heck That’s Hot!

I love spice and can tolerate heat very well. My only caveat is that the heat better bring some flavor and make the food worthy of eating. Empty calories to me, also means eating something that is not great but you are eating it to make whatever you spent on it not be wasted. I can state that Heck That’s Hot provided a box filled with items that were full sized and the individual size (i.e. one serving) products were included in multiples. Yup, you are not trying to share a one-bite chocolate piece between a family of four! Some of the products I was familiar with when it came to the manufactures like Lindt chocolates. I also liked that there was care in packaging. The parcel was double boxed and the items were safely packed. Even the chips were not a mess and that also means care is shown and you not only want that when a box is being sent to you, but it’s something I seek when I give boxes as a gift. Heck That’s Hot will not make you look poorly in that aspect either and I like that they take pride and care in how they handle products. Hey, I got chocolate sent that was not even melted and I reside in California!

This a company I have seen and heard of but never actually tasted their products. The chips are made with real ingredients making them simple but so tasty. You see real jalapeno pieces and these are not green little flecks. I’m talking about diced jalapeno that is mixed into corn masa, which is used to make these delicious round shaped chips. They deliver heat and crunch, plus they are not a salty mess. What’s not to love?

This item made us laugh when we saw it. It’s a large size pickle and not your everyday product, so I love that Heck That’s Hot included it. I love firecrackers and this pickle is like the big version of them. We refrigerated the pickle and I first took a slice to see how it tasted and it was a pleasing flavor, you get that pucker power from the brine but the spice is good tasting. The pickle also has a good texture and crunch! You get a heat that is zesty but not over the top. I made a spread for burgers using the pickle (diced). Very simple with Mayo, Chipotle powder, and the Hot Mama Pickle. I even have 1/2 left to enjoy as-is or in another recipe. I’m thinking this one would wake up any tater’ salad.

Okay, I have had these little squares in what I thought was every flavor…..I was wrong. The base is dark chocolate and chili extract. I have had spiced hot chocolate drinks and even Mexican chocolates but these are nothing like that. The chocolate used is velvety smooth and because it’s dark, it has sharp notes but the chili pepper is not in flake form or anything grainy within the square itself. Just smoothness and the spice is almost pepper (as in peppercorn) and it just intensifies the cocoa notes. That is all. It’s sort of like a play of salt on chocolate and what that does to your taste buds. I really enjoyed it and will seek this chocolate out due to the intense flavor it delivered!

I always look at boxes and their worth is also measured by what I can make with them and this item along with the following two, I was able to create a meal and still have left-overs. That is what makes a subscription box worth it to me and Heck That’s Hot provided quality products that go beyond just a few dips with a chip, put jar in the fridge to just throw it out 2 weeks later. We actually enjoyed cooking with what was provided in the box!

It’s a dip, a mix to even a spice packet. The seasonings provide a base that can be used in sauces, combined with meats to even making spreads. This allows me to use the product more than once and that is more bang for your buck! I found blue corn taco shells that just again was adding something new to the everyday rotation. We have had blue corn chips but never taco shells, and it’s hard finding something not enhanced with dyes, so you bet I grabbed them when it was just simple blue corn. I had fresh ground chicken and beef in the fridge, so I made Tacos using Julia’s Sassy Dip mix. I tasted the seasoning and it was a little sweeter than I desired, so I just added more chipotle flakes and powder. Some red Anaheim Chilies, onion and you simply brown each meat in a separate pan. That simple. I love how easy it was to make!

I prepared myself and I love Habanero to the point I use the actual pepper to make a Habanero Rice. Everyone thinks the orange little pepper is just an innocent sweet pepper and then it just hits you. Habaneros have great flavor and are very versatile when cooking. I got tired (bored really) of jalapenos that tasted so mild anymore because it’s hard to find spicy jalapenos. We opened the jar and it smelled spicy, like it kicked my nostrils with the heat but once the jar was opened for over a minute, the intensity in smell went away. We tasted and the base is very tomato-y like sort of the notes you get from a jar of canned plum tomatoes and paste. Then comes the vinegar and then the slight heat. The salsa has flavor but not intense in Habanero, so it’s workable. I worked it into some rice and it was perfection because my Husband did feel the vinegar was more intense than the heat. A 1/4 cup of the salsa I added to the water, after frying the rice with veggies and chilies and 22 minutes later…..Spanish rice that has some heat but pairs perfectly and does not overpower the dish.

I know…..what! I thought the same when I saw this sauce but I’m always open to tasting new foods. I checked out the ingredients and you have Blueberry, Raspberry, Vinegar, the Ghost Pepper and then just salt and pepper. That is all! I start thinking how people mix pineapple with pork, and then add heat via chilies. I make and eat that, so why not give this a chance? First I tried the sauce on a chip and it’s hotter than the Habanero Salsa above. I love Ghost Pepper but feel the poor pepper is misused and mostly there for name than flavor. The Bravado Spice Co., did not leave the Ghost Pepper behind and did it justice by adding flavor. Think of the fruit as base, there for texture and to control the bitter notes peppers to even vinegar can give. It off-sets the heat just a bit and keeps everything in check. This sauce would be great to marinate shrimps with, like a ceviche. Great for a dressing in a Mexi-style salad but I think it shines best with lighter meats like poultry and fish. I’m thinking Tilapia tacos next time and I may even crust them with blue corn by just grinding the taco shells that came broken in the box (there is always 1 or 2 that never make it whole). Great sauce and I am open to trying that Pineapple one on a smoked pork butt sandwich. I added some to our chicken tacos this time!

Yee-haw! I don’t usually eat popcorn from a microwave bag but that donkey is mocking me. I have not popped this baby yet but will be this weekend. It’s movie night, I got a free RedBox code, so I’m set. It’s even raining in California, so things could not be better. It’s Habanero and it takes the boring out of poppy corn any day.

Retail Price Point: They have two box sizes to choose from with the lowest $20 and then a larger $30 sized box. Shipping is always free, so you pay on a monthly basis the price above and that is all. You also have the freedom to cancel your subscription, so Heck That’s Hot is not your gimmicky company that has hidden charges or trying to bog you down with long term commitments.

Verdict:

Do I need one? I know I always add something here to see where I land on purchasing an item but this is a must try. Try a month, see what comes and see what you make. That is how I think of boxes of this kind work and why some of us love them and others don’t. I can say that there is enough in a box that makes the price point fair and then you think of weight and shipping, but wait that is included into the Heck That’s Hot price point. That is where I see the worth because it gets delivered to your home and the items are full sized and the ones that are portion sized is enough to share. No one gets left out, so you shouldn’t either and check-out a company that is bringing something different to the table.

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Heck That’s Hot. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.